Goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel ran out to help Leicester helicopter victims

Footballer Kasper Schmeichel was held back by police as he rushed to help the victims of the Leicester helicopter crash, it emerged today.

The team's goalkeeper ran out of the stadium after hearing the helicopter of owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha slam into the ground in a car park outside the King Power Stadium.

Witnesses have said he was held back police as he rushed towards the wreckage as the club's manager Claude Puel told how his goalkeeper had seen 'a lot of things'.

Mr Srivaddhanaprabha, two of his staff and two pilots were killed in the crash last weekend. Investigators began removing the wreckage from the scene today.

'We remained a long time together without the possibility to share words. It was silence. They were bad moments. Difficult, difficult.'

Puel said he did not see Srivaddhanaprabha after the 1-1 result but had welcomed the Leicester chairman into his office before kick-off.

'I saw him before the game,' said Puel. 'He was happy, with a smile. We discussed a lot. It was a pleasure of course. I could not imagine this thing after.'

Puel said the experience has been his hardest to manage in football but that playing against Cardiff on Saturday was the right thing to do.

'This weekend and every week on, we will play to honour a man who did so much for our club,' Puel said. 'We have a responsibility to continue his way.

'Vichai made Leicester into what it is, a family. He invested in the club, invested in the city and he invested in people.

'He truly was loved by everyone inside and outside the club. Personally it was a privilege to work for him. I will treasure the trust he showed in me, and the moments we shared.'

Puel confirmed Kasper Schmeichel had witnessed the flames after running out of the King Power Stadium on Saturday night, and he gave details on how a sombre week went at the club's Belvoir Drive training base.

'Kasper lived his situation, he saw a lot of things,' said Puel. 'All my squad had a lot of sadness, upset.

'On Monday we had a meeting at the training centre, to speak, to share our feelings, it was important to talk between ourselves and share this difficult moment.

'We tried to manage this time in the right direction, just to listen. The first day was to share all our sorrow. It was a long day, but it was important to propose for the players different possibilities, to speak to counsellors, to work on the pitch, be in little groups. In the face of tragedy all people have different needs.

'Afterwards we had our meeting, with Top, with the son, with his wife. I was impressed with their strength and dignity. I would like to thank them because they shared their sorrow with us like a family.'

Puel said the decision to play against Cardiff was made unanimously.

'It is one of the best remedies you can have,' he said.

'I have 27 players in the squad and all were ready together to give their best 100 per cent.

'The result is not important. But our desire, our action, our pride to honour our chairman is the most important thing.

'After I don't know, we will see the result. It is a second thing. But about our conviction, our focus, we will be ready.

'I hope we can find the right balance between conviction and emotion. If we remain just on the emotion it will be difficult of course.

'I am confident when I saw my players in training session they can give their best. For a few minutes you need your focus, concentration just on the football. Before and after we cannot forget.'